Automobile eobe-bail



P. F. nE-NNING.. AUTDMOBILEI RBE- HAIL. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25, 1920.

`Patented Oct. 18, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l,

P. F. DENNING.

AUTOMOBILE ROBE RAIL. APPLICATION FILED Fis. 25. 1920.

PATENT OFFICE.

PATRICK .'F. DENNING, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

AUTOMOBILE ROBE-RAIL.

T 0 all w hom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PATRICK F. DENNING, a citizen of the vUnited States, residing at Cleveland in the county of Cuyahoga and State of hio,`have invented a certain new and useful ImprovementJ in Automobile Robe-Rails, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a robe rail, adapted to be secured to the body of an automobile particularly to the back of the front seat or other supporting surfaces.

An object of my invention is to provide a robe rail which can be extended to provide for additional clearance between the rail and supporting surface while at the same time providing a rigid rail in all its positions. This additional clearance makes the rail more readily accessible for the placing of robes and other articles thereon, and at the same time avoids the necessity of wrinkling or creasing of the articles while they are held by the rail. A further object is to so arrange the supports for the rail, as to allow adjustably increasing the capacity of the rail for holding articles of wearing apparel.

In accomplishing this result I make the robe rail support of relatively movable members such as sliding or telescopic members having means for limiting the movement of the rail. I provide means for securing a Y stationary member of the support to the supporting surface at an angle thereto, and means or'securing the robe rail to a movable member. This movable member may be adjusted to extend out of its normal position, to any desired height, a distance from the supporting surface within the limit of its movement.

Another object is to associate in a convenient manner with the robe rail, supporting means for holding hats or other articles of wearing apparel which cannot be suitably placed upon a rail. I prefer to use such a means for carrying hats or other similar articles. The structure shown, described and claimed in my Patent #818,421 issued April 24;, 1906.

The above mentioned objects and other features of my invention will be hereinafter more fully explained in connection with the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the essential characteristics being summarized .in the claims.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 18, 1921.

Application filed February 25, 1920. Serial No. 361,120.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the robe rail attached to the front seat of the body of an automobile; Fig. 2 is a perspective of a telescopic member comprising the robe rail holder and showing internal members in extended position with the rail attached thereto; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the robe rail holder; Fig. 4 is a cross section through the' telescopic members; Fig. 5 is a view of the robe rail holder from the robe rail side of the holder, showing portions of the external and internal members cut away; Fig. 6 is a side view of the support shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectionV through Fig. 3 showing the one piece structure of the material comprising the external telescopic member with the base of Jthe robe rail holder; Fig. 8 represents the hat holder which is attached to the lower portion of the robe rail support; Fig. 9 is a detail of the pivot and spring for the hat holder; Fig. 10 represents a portion of the robe rail showing the manner of its connection to the internal telescopic member; Fig. 11 is a perspective of the external telescopic member with the cap raised above its ordinary position; Fig. 12 is a detail of a portion of the post.

Describing the parts by the use of reference characters, 10 designates the external telescopic member, preferably of sheet metal construction having a base 1l composed of an integral piece of metal and provided at its lower portion for the mounting of the hat holder 12. The internal telescopic member 2O is fitted to slide longitudinally within the external member 10 and is adapted to hold the robe rail 30. The robe rail 30 may be provided with notches 31 adapted to engage the sides 32 of slots in the internal telescopic member 20. The hat holder 12 is shown pivoted on a'pin 13 fitted in openings in ears projecting outwardly from the lower edges or side walls of the member 1() and urged to clamping position by a spring 141. f To limit the outward movement of the slide 2O I have shown a stop at L11l consisting of projections folded inwardly near the top of the telescopic member 1() and embraced by a slot 51 extending to a shoulder 54: near the lower edge of the slide 20. I prefer to form the entire external telescopic member 10 and its base 11 from one piece of metal by a number of successive stamping operations, but if desired, the above may be con- .Structed indepepdently of the casing and.

secured thereto by any convenient means. Thus it will be seen that the side wallsl 15 and 16 being rigid with the automobile body or other supporting member, sli-dably embrace the internal telescopic member 20 and serve to guide it in its inward or outward movement. The wall 18 may have a part of the lower portion cut away as at 43, so as to allow suflicient space for the installation and operation of the hat holder^12, while the wall 15V may have a notch as at 42 .for receiving part of the robe rail 30 and to allow the lower surface 21 of the cap 12 to abut the upper surface 19 of the'member 10. The tubular slide 20 may be formed of one piece of metal by folding a sheet cut to the desired size and having the ends abutting each other on the wall 22 adjacent tothe wall 18. j

This robe rail is preferably constructed of one piece of metal rolled to form a cylinder having the meeting edges abutting each other.V Thejcap 112 embracing and covering the upper end of the internal telescopic member 20 is preferably constructed of one piece of metal and may be fastened to the internal member by any suitable means as for eX- ample, by a machine screw 71 and may have a notch as at 55 to t over the robe rail.

T'o use the robe rail, it isl only necessary to raise the rail to any desired height within the'limits of its movementand after placing vthe articles of wearing apparel'thereon, it may be pushed or allowed to slide back until it is in itslowermost position or so far as the bulk of apparel `will permit it to go.

vFrom 'the foregoing description, it will be seen that I accomplish the objects set forth by a simple and economical construction having characteristicsof durability and ease of operation. It will also be apparent that my construction lends itself to convenient association with a hat holder such as shown. Y Having thus described my invention, what claim is: j 1. In aroberail, a pairof` housings adapted to be secured to a supporting` surface, a pair of extension members slidably engaging said housings respectively and having lateral openingstherein, a railengagingsaid extension members and having its ends inserted in said openings, and a pair of caps on Vthe end ofthe extension members and holding the rail in place.

2. In a ldevice of the class described, the combination with a pair of unconnected supports,each support comprising a strucvture having a base and a body portion, the

said body having a portion of the meeting edges in abutting engagement and portion of the meeting edges turned inwardly, a complementary member slidably mounted in each of the -said supports and having a slot adapted to abut the said inwardly turned edges whereby the movement of the said inner members is limited, and means connecting the said inner members.

3. ln a device of the class described, the combination with a robe rail of a supporting means comprising one stationary member, said member having a base-rigidly secured thereto, and embracing a movable member, said `movable memberhaving a groove engaging a projection in the stationary member, and having a shoulder on said movable member to abut said projection and limit theoutward movement of said movable member, and means for securing said rail to said movable member.

fl. In a device of the class described, the combination with a robe rail of a stationary supporting means therefor comprising a one piece structure, having a base portion and a hollow lbody portion, said body portion having the edges turned inwardlv near the top thereof, a member substantially com-` plementary tothe interior of said body portion and slidable therein, said inner member having the vends thereof in abutting en` gag'ement at the bottom to form a shoulder, and having the ends spaced Vapart above'the shoulder to form a slot, saidslot being adapted to embrace and guide the "saidinwardly turned edges. j

V5. lIna device of the class described, the combination with a robe railof a'telescopic supporting means therefor, comprising a plurality'of hollow members, one slidable within the other, one of said members having bent edges, and another of said members having edges spaced apart forming a groove into which the said bent edges are fitted, said movable member being tionary member and having a portion-cut away from one side, to form lingers, said robe rail having notchesnear each end to ft over said fingers whereby the rail is rigidly securedv against longitudinal movement, and means for inclosin'g the upper end of said inner member.

In testimony whereof l hereunto afiix my signature.

PATRICK r. DENNING.

longer than the sta-` 

